Shoe buckle or latch



F. M. RONCI SHOE BUCKLE OR LATCH Filed Feb. '7, 1957 Aug. 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

' FERNANDO M. RONCI .25 BY ATTOR EY Unite My present invention relates to the buckle art and more particularly to a shoe buckle or latch for fastening shoes having straps.

The principal object of the present invention is to pro-' vide a shoe buckle for a shoe strap which will instantly draw the upper parts of the shoe towards each other and easily look into closed position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe buckle latch which can be opened in one move ment and will provide a wide opening for easy removal of the shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe buckle or latch that can easily and quickly be adjusted to diflerent tensions without the use of any tools or other means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe buckle or latch which is easy and economical to mount on the shoe and in which all the metal parts are concealed in closed position.

A further object of the. present invention is to provide a shoe buckle or latch of extremely simple construction drawings, and more particularly defined inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying my invention, the latch being shown-in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the buckle or latch in open position with portions of the shoe attached thereto.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the'latch in-partia'lly closed position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the latch in closed-position.

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the latch inopen'position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5 showing an alternative form of the invention.

It has become desirable in certain typesof shoe construction to eliminate the use of shoe laces and'substitute a single wide strap and buckle. made to provide the buckle with various adjustable fea tures and locking arrangements including a latch arrangement for hiding the buckle. Where a latch is used addi-. tional construction must be provided to permit'the' wearer to adjust the tension to his foot. This makesthe assembly costly and the operationa nuisance to the user.

The present invention is designed to provide a buckle of the latch type made in' two simple parts easily attached to the shoe and with a simple adjustment that is made once by the user andremainsfixed in place. The present invention provides a simple locking-and unlocking Attempts have been States atent ice mechanism that is made with one motion and provides a positive locking action against all strains.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate the construction, mounting and operation of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the latch is used in connection with a shoe construction 10 having uppers 11 and 12 drawn together by the strap 13 which is attached to the upper 12 and locked to the upper 11 by the latch shown in dotted lines. This shows the shoe for the right foot. On the left foot a strap will extend in the opposite direction;

Referring to Fig. 5, the latch comprises a base 14 which can be readily stamped from sheet stock. The base comprises a substantially square flat portion 15 having integral upturned side flanges 16 and 17, each provided with spaced aligned openings 18. Extending integrally from the edge of the portion 15 is an elongated narrower rectangular portion 19. The portion 19 is also provided with integral upturned side flanges 20 and 21. The flanges 20 and 21 are provided with detents formed by stamping from the inside outwardly to form a bump 22 outside each flange 20 and 21. The base 14 is provided with spaced assembly openings 23. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the base 14 is mounted on the upper 11 by eyelets or rivets 24 extending through the openings 23. Once mounted in place the base is immovable.

The second portion of the buckle, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises a generally U-shaped wire member 25 in which the U-bend comprises a flat base portion 26 reentrantly bent-at the ends at 2-7 so'that the arms 28 are in spaced relation less than the length of the base 26. This gives the loop end a spring tension. The free ends of the arms 28 are eachbent outwardly at 22 to form' pivots. In operating position each pivot 29 will extend into opposite openings 18 in the side flanges 16' and 17 asshown in Fig. 5. In this figure the member 25 is shown pivotally mounted in the first pair of pivot openings. The

assembly is simple, the arms 28 are squeezed towards each other and the pivots are inserted in the openings after which-the arms are released.

Referring to Fig. 2, the free end of the strap 13 is provided with a tab portion 30 having a loop. The Wire member 25 is passed through the loop before mounting at the base 14. In the'position shown'in'Fig. Zthe assembly is in open position and the uppers are free tobe pulled apart for" either removing or putting on the shoe. When the shoe'is on the wearer grasps the end of the strap and swings it over so that the Wire member 25 swings in on its pivot 29 into the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the flanges .16 and 17 will guide the arms 28 which slide inside of them. The portion 19 is sufliciently narrower than theportion 15 to allow the arms 28- to swing on the outside of the flanges 20' and 21. Further movement of the member 25, downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3, will snap the arms 28 under the detents or bumps 22' into the position shown in Fig. 4. Since the arms 28 are on the inside of the flanges 16 and 1-7 5 and the outside of the flanges 20 and 21 they are firmly restricted and only the resiliency of the construction of the loop portion will permit them to snap by the detents 22. Thus a tight and firm locking action is provided. In closed position the entire assembly is hidden under the strap 13 as shown in Fig. 1. To open the strap one finger ispushed downwardly at a point approximately over the base 14 and thethumb pulls the edgeof the' strap upwardly past the detents 22 so that the member 25 can be pivoted into open position again. A single movement will thus open or close the latch.

To increase the spring tension the arms 28 may be slightly tapered outwardly towards the pivot. If it is foundnecessary to adjust the closing action of the st rap' 13 the user will merely press the arms 28 towards each other until the pivots 29 slide out of the openings 18 and then move them forwardly into any of the other openings. As can be seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the last pair of openings will cause the strap to move further outwardly in closed position to pull the uppers 11 and 12 more tightly towards each other. Once the wearer makes the adjustment to his own foot it cannot slip or loosen from this position.

The buckle or latch can be easily manufactured on a stamping press and its assembly on the shoe is quickly accomplished without special tools or modifications of the shoe structure.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive the pivoted wire member 25 pivots inside of the larger base portion 15 and outside of the smaller base portion 19. In the form shown in Fig. 6, this condition is reversed. Here the base comprises the narrower portion 31 having side flanges 32 with spaced openings 33. Extending integrally from the portion 31 is the wide rectangular portion 34- having side flanges 35. The wire member 36 is again provided with a resilient base 37. However here free ends of the arms extend inwardly towards each other to form the pivots 38. The pivots 38 are thus mounted in the openings 33 from the outside inwardly. When the member is swung to closed position the arms Will swing on the outside of the flanges 32 and the inside of the flanges 35. To impart further resiliency to the locking action, the flanges 35 may be provided with spaced cuts 39 defining a central portion having an inwardly extended detent 40. This will compensate for any stiffness in the locking and unlocking action.

I have thus provided a simple two piece latch member for a shoe that can be easily stamped from sheet stock, provides an easy and non-slipping adjustment, andis easy and economical to assemble with the shoe. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

l. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-shaped Wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents.

2. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, said wire member base portion being reentrantly bent at each end and then at right angles to said base portion to form said spaced parallel arms with the spacing between said arms being less than the length of said base portion.

3. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles outwardly to form pivot portions for mounting said arms inside of said pivot opening flanges. 4. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, onepair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-sh-aped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer'end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, said wire member base portion being reentrantly bent at each end and then at right angles to said base portion to form said spaced parallel arms with the spacing between said arms being less than the length of said base portion, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles outwardly to form pivot portions for mounting said arms inside of said pivot opening flanges. 5. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion be ng pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles inwardly to form pivot portions for mounting 'said arms outside of said pivot opening flanges.

6.'A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, said wire member base portion being reentrantly bent at each end and then at right angles to said base portion to form said spaced parallel arms with the spacing between said arms being less than the length of said base portion, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles inwardly to form pivot portions for mounting said arms outside of said pivot opening flanges.

7. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base having openings for riveting said base to said upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having a plurality of spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents.

8. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having a plurality of extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the flanged portion of said base having the pivot openings being wider than the flanged portion having the detents, said arms extending inside of said wider portion and outside of said narrower portion.

9. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having a plurality of extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel aims extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned opening in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles outwardly to form pivot portions for mounting said arms inside of said flanges, the flanged portion of said base having the pivot openings being wider than the flanged portion having the detents, said arms extending inside of said wider portion and outside of said narrower portion.

10. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having a plurality of extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said Wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the flanged portion of said base having the pivot openings being narrower than the flanged portion having the detents, said arms extending outside of said narrower portion and inside of said wider portion.

11. A latch buckle for a shoe having a pair of uppers and a strap attached to one upper and extending across to the other upper, comprising a flat base mounted on said other upper, said base comprising integrally connected rectangular portions of unequal width, each of said portions having upstanding flanges on opposite side edges, one pair of flanges having spaced aligned pivot openings, the other pair of flanges having a plurality of extruded detents, and a U-shaped wire member having a base portion and two spaced parallel arms extending integrally therefrom, said wire base portion being pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of said strap and the ends of said arms being pivotally mounted in a selected pair of said aligned openings in said flanges, whereby when said wire member is pivoted to closed position said arms will extend outside one pair of flanges and inside the other pair of flanges and will snap by said detents to be resiliently retained in closed position by said detents, the ends of said arms being bent at right angles inwardly to form pivot portions for mounting said arms outside of said flanges, the flanged portion of said base having the pivot openings being narrower than the flanged portion having the detents, said arms extending outside of said narrower portion and inside of said wider portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,622,989 Benjamin Mar. 29, 1927 1,790,300 Carlson Jan. 27, 1931 2,454,439 Fontaine Nov. 23, 1948 

